How can you tell if your magazine leaks?

[Slono]

I'm wondering how you can tell if your pistol magazine leaks. Where does it leak from? What can cause a leak (upgrading to high flow valves, not screwed in tightly, etc...)? Is there anything I can do to fix a leaky mag without buying new parts?

[Strelok]

People usually dump them in water and see if bubbles come up, then clean them properly afterwards.

[R.I.T.Z]

step 1 - fill the mag
step 2 - submerge
step 3 - note where bubbles are coming from


fixing options
buy new parts - usually if theres a busted valve etc...
gasket sealant - remove base plate and use there (P.S there was a thread about this method somewhere)

[kullwarrior]

I wouldn't submerge first unless you cant tell from these:

Goto a quiet room, put it close to your ear and hear it. common spot 3 spots Fill Valve, Release valve, and the gas release spot.

If you can't hear it, spray a lil LIGHT silicon oil, (helps lube it anyways) listen for bubbles

If those two doesnt work, well then chances are its good, or having a really really slow leak.

Down side, if you listen to loud music..like those people blaring music even though theyre wearing earphones...it might be difficult for you as you killed yourself. hehe.

[pusangani]

+1 on the silicone oil bit, the thinner the better, the kind that comes in a spray can, it's not as thick as the 10wt stuff

[Slono]

Originally Posted by kullwarrior

I wouldn't submerge first unless you cant tell from these:

Goto a quiet room, put it close to your ear and hear it. common spot 3 spots Fill Valve, Release valve, and the gas release spot.

If you can't hear it, spray a lil LIGHT silicon oil, (helps lube it anyways) listen for bubbles

If those two doesnt work, well then chances are its good, or having a really really slow leak.

Down side, if you listen to loud music..like those people blaring music even though theyre wearing earphones...it might be difficult for you as you killed yourself. hehe.

I could just dunk it in water... I don't have a silicon spray, I have the one that comes from AI in a bottle. Could I just drop a couple drops on the areas instead of spraying, or is it the spray that makes a difference. Probably a seriously dumb question but I thought I'd ask anyway.

[kullwarrior]

Originally Posted by Slono

I could just dunk it in water... I don't have a silicon spray, I have the one that comes from AI in a bottle. Could I just drop a couple drops on the areas instead of spraying, or is it the spray that makes a difference. Probably a seriously dumb question but I thought I'd ask anyway.

AI stuff works but aiming with them sucks cause they usually go on the side.

[juicy]

Originally Posted by kullwarrior

AI stuff works but aiming with them sucks cause they usually go on the side.

Tell me about it...

Try dunking the mags into water if you can't hear anything hissing. Just my two cents on the issue - but don't take my word all that seriously, its not like I've had the amount of experience as many of the guys on ASC have.

Personally, I'm going to get a local gun doc to fix up a bunch of mine because I'm just too damn lazy to track down the correctly-sized, wider-dimensioned O-rings for my KJW M9 mags. And KWA mags are a bitch to disassemble. No issues with TM mags yet (Hi-Capa 5.1 variety), even after a number of direct drops on hard floors - whoops, lol. WE tend to develop leaks if you abuse them, but they're easy to disassemble and seal up again.

As to valve leaks, I've only had to deal with fill valves. If I have got a fill valve leak, I'll steal an extra fill valve from a parts mag (hehe, that's the one half-decent thing that's come out of buying more WE mags than I'll ever need) and make use good use of that. Perhaps you could check out airsoftparts.ca and the Madbull grenade fill valve set; while you're at it, and if you get them - let me know what they're like, will you?

[coach]

Originally Posted by kullwarrior

Goto a quiet room, put it close to your ear and hear it. common spot 3 spots Fill Valve, Release valve, and the gas release spot.

you missed one. base plate!


instead of dunking, I'd just brush on a mixture of dish soap and water. where there's a leak, a bubble will form.

alternatively, you could just add more AI oil to your gas source and fill the mag. if the mag has a slow leak, the oil will seep out. if it's really slow, keep topping up the mag and set it down. every day or two rotate it so that a different side is sitting on the table.

[CDN_Stalker]

'Sssssssssssssssssss'